NHTSA Complaint #10463346 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

MY "STICK SHIFT" 2001 FORD ESCAPE TENDS TO STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PUSHED IN, CLEAR TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE WOULD DIE AND LEAVE ME STRANDED EVERYWHERE. EVEN IF YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45MPH OR HIGHER, ONCE YOU PUSH IN THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE TO THE LAST GEAR, IT WILL STILL STALL AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CUTS OFF, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU PUSH IN THE CLUTCH. ONCE THIS HAPPENS, IT WILL NOT STAY RUNNING. IT WILL RESTART FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS, (NOT THE BATTERY OR STARTER) THEN IT WILL DIE AGAIN, REPEATEDLY. IT WOULD GET TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WITH NO LUCK. THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". ONCE, THE CAR COOLS OFF, THEN THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARS. THERE IS A VALVE THE HEATS UP AND GETS STUCK OPEN. IF THE VALVE COOLS DOWN, IT CAN CLOSE AND THEN IT IS FINE. NOW, IF I MAKE ALOT OF SHORT STOPS (ERRANDS) WHERE THE CAR DOESN'T GET A CHANCE TO COOL OFF, SAY TEN MINUTES OR LESS, THEN IT WON'T STAY STARTED. IF YOU TURN OVER THE IGNITION, IT WILL START, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIES. HOWEVER, IF I LET THE CAR SIT FOR SAY A COUPLE OF HOURS, SAY 4-6 HOURS. IT WILL START BACK UP JUST FINE AND STAY RUNNING LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THE KEY TIP IS: DON'T PUT ETHANOL IN THE GAS TANK. IF I BUY THE MOST EXPENSIVE GAS, THE PROBLEM TENDS TO CLEAR UP ON IT'S OWN. IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN THIS SUMMER. ONCE I CHANGED TO THE PRIMO (MOST EXPENSIVE) GAS, IT HAS NOW STOPPED WITHOUT TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP. PERSONALLY, I THINK GAS CONTAINING ETHANOL HAS TOO MUCH MOISTURE IN IT CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS FORD ESCAPE CAR IS NOT DESIGNED TO RUN ON "ETHANOL" PRODUCTS. THIS ALL MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS VERY HOT AND HUMID OUTSIDE. WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND IF IT WOULD QUALIFY FOR OTHERS AS A RECALL ITEM? *TR